Voter Participation Policy

Voter participation is vital to the health of a democracy. Communities that pass pro-participation policies encourage local turnout and reduce barriers at the ballot box. Below are examples of pro-participation policies cities can adopt to improve voter participation.

Youth Pre-Registration

More than 40% of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 24 are not registered to vote. The low rate of electoral participation among young people weakens our democracy and diminishes the responsiveness of government to the concerns of these citizens. Higher turnout among young people would increase the diversity of the electorate, and would improve the representation of other traditionally underrepresented groups like the poor and ethnic minorities. When young people are registered to vote, they actually vote at higher rates than those who register later in life. Improving the registration rate of young people could therefore have a significant positive effect on the turnout of underrepresented groups. States can help to promote voting among young people by establishing a uniform voter “pre-registration” age of 16. Pre-registration programs are often conducted in schools, or in state departments of motor vehicles, where young people can register as they apply for a driver’s license or learner’s permit. These pre-registered voters would be defined as “pending” until automatically added to the voting rolls when they reach voting age. As of October 2012, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. have voter pre-registration at age 16. California and Oregon have passed laws for pre-registration at 17. No state implementing voter pre-registration has experienced significant difficulties with their program, and they have typically been passed into law with bipartisan support. Legislators of both major parties have found that over time, pre-registration eases the burden on election officials. Most importantly, pre-registration programs have been shown to increase the registration rates of young people, who are more likely to become voters for life when engaged with electoral politics early in life.

Same Day Registration

Our democracy is strongest when elections are as open and inclusive as possible. Same-day registration (SDR) removes a significant barrier to voter participation and has been in use in several states for decades. SDR ensures that any person legally eligible to vote on Election Day will be able to do so. It is especially beneficial for voters who have recently moved, changed their names, or decided they would like to participate in the electoral process for the first time. Most importantly, SDR has been shown to improve voter turnoutin each of the last six elections, and has a long history of use in Wisconsin and Minnesota, two states that regularly vie for the highest levels of voter turnout in the nation. Critics of same-day registration often claim that it increases the potential for electoral fraud. However, mounting evidence suggests that concerns about voter fraud in the United States have been vastly overstated. The risk of voter fraud related to same day registration is further reduced when it is used in conjunction with early voting. During early voting periods, persons may register to vote and cast their ballots. These votes are held in a separate place until the persons are verified as eligible voters in that precinct. Ultimately, the benefits of same-day registration on voter turnout and citizen access to the electoral process far outweigh any perceived risks. That is why SDR provisions have proven so popular in the eight states where they are in effect.